Hello, this is Father Paul and I'm glad we're taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year.
Yesterday we heard about things that would make someone unclean and would disqualify
a person from participating in the worship of the Lord at the tabernacle of meeting.
And these things were not just internal but also external.
And today we're going to hear about the things that would cut off someone from among the
people.
And these are things that would constitute very serious offenses.
Alright, let's begin.
Today's reading is from the Viricus chapter 16 to 19.
Chapter 16
Now the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered
profane fire before the Lord and died.
Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the holy place inside the veil,
before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die.
For I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
Thus Aaron shall come into the holy place, with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering,
and of a ram as a burnt offering.
He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body.
He shall be girded with the linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired.
These are holy garments.
Therefore he shall wash his body in water and put them on.
And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats
as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering.
Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for
himself and for his house.
He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle
of meeting.
Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for
the scapegoat.
And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering.
But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before
the Lord, to make atonement upon it and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.
And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement
for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for
himself.
Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord,
with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil.
And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover
the mercy seed that is on the testimony, lest he die.
He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy
seed on the east side.
And before the mercy seed he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside
the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on
the mercy seed and before the mercy seed.
So he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children
of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins, and so he shall do for
the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement
in the holy place until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his
household and for all the assembly of Israel.
And he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall
take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat and put it on the
horns of the altar all around.
Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, cleanse it,
and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
Then when he has made an end of atoning for the holy place, the tabernacle of meeting
and the altar, he shall bring the live goat.
Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the
iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions concerning all their
sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness
by the hand of a suitable man.
The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land, and he shall release
the goat in the wilderness.
Then Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of meeting, shall take off the linen garments
which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there.
And he shall wash his body with water in a holy place, put on his garments, come out
and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement
for himself and for the people.
The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.
Then he who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body
in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
The bowl for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering whose blood was brought
in to make atonement in the holy place shall be carried outside the camp, and they shall
burn in the fire their skins, their flesh, and their offal.
Then he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward
he may come into the camp.
This shall be a statute forever for you.
In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls and
do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among
you.
For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean
from all your sins before the Lord.
It is a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls.
It is a statute forever, and the priest who is anointed and consecrated to minister as
priest in his father's place shall make atonement and put on the linen cloth the holy garments.
Then he shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for
the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests
and for all the people of the assembly.
This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel
for all their sins once a year.
And he did as the Lord commanded Moses.
Chapter 17 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak
to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, This is the thing
which the Lord has commanded, saying, Whatever man of the house of Israel, who kills an ox,
or lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, and does not bring it
to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to offer an offering to the Lord before the
tabernacle of the Lord, the guilt of bloodshed shall be imputed to that man.
He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people, to the end that
the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they offer in the open field, that they
may bring them to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to the priest,
and offer them as peace offerings to the Lord.
And the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle
of meeting, and burn a fat for a sweet aroma to the Lord.
They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the
harlot.
And the priest shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.
Also you shall say to them, whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who
dwell among you, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, and does not bring it to the
door of the tabernacle of meeting, to offer it to the Lord, that man shall be cut off
from among his people.
And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats
any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off
from among his people.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar
to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.
Therefore, I said to the children of Israel, no one among you shall eat blood, nor shall
any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.
Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who
hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood
and cover it with dust.
For it is the life of all flesh, its blood sustains its life.
Therefore, I said to the children of Israel, you shall not eat the blood of any flesh,
for the life of all flesh is its blood.
Whoever eats it shall be cut off.
And every person who eats what died naturally, or what was torn by beasts, whether he is
a native of your own country or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes and bathe in
water and be unclean until evening.
Then he shall be clean, but if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall
bear his guilt.
Chapter 18 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Speak
to the children of Israel, and say to them, I am the LORD your God.
According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do.
And according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall
not do.
Nor shall you walk in their ordinances.
You shall observe my judgments and keep my ordinances, to walk in them.
I am the LORD your God.
You shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man does, he shall live
by them.
I am the LORD.
None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness.
I am the LORD.
The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover.
She is your mother.
You shall not uncover her nakedness.
The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover.
It is your father's nakedness.
The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother,
whether born at home or elsewhere, the nakedness you shall not uncover.
The nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, their nakedness you
shall not uncover for theirs is your own nakedness.
The nakedness of your father's wife's daughter.
Begotten by your father.
She is your sister.
You shall not uncover her nakedness.
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister.
She is near of kin to your father.
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is nearest kin to
your mother.
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, you shall not approach
his wife.
She is your aunt.
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law.
She is your son's wife.
You shall not uncover her nakedness.
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife, it is your brother's nakedness.
You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son's
daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness.
They are near of kin to her.
It is wickedness.
Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister to uncover her nakedness while the
other is alive.
Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary
impurity.
Moreover, you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife to defile yourself with
her, and you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall
you profane the name of your god, I am the Lord.
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman, it is an abomination, nor shall you mate with
any animal to defile yourself with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to
mate with it, it is perversion.
Do not defile yourselves with any of these things, for by all these the nations are defiled,
which I am casting out before you.
For the land is defiled, therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and
the land vomits out its inhabitants.
You shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these
abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you.
For all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus
the land is defiled.
Lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that
were before you.
For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off
from among their people.
For you shall keep my ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs
which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them.
I am the Lord your God.
Chapter 19 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak
to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy,
for I the Lord your God am holy.
Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep my Sabbaths.
I am the Lord your God.
Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods.
I am the Lord your God.
And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it of your own
free will.
It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day.
And if any remains, until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire.
And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination.
It shall not be accepted.
Therefore everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity.
Because he has profaned the hallowed offering of the Lord.
And that person shall be cut off from his people.
When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your
field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.
And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard.
You shall leave them for the poor and a stranger.
I am the Lord your God.
You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.
And you shall not swear by my name falsely.
Nor shall you profane the name of your God.
I am the Lord.
You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him.
The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.
You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind.
But shall fear your God.
I am the Lord.
You shall do no injustice in judgment.
You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty.
In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
You shall not go about as a tale-bearer among your people, nor shall you take a stand against
the life of your neighbor.
I am the Lord.
You shall not hate your brother in your heart.
You shall surely rebuke your neighbor and not bear sin because of him.
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people.
But you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the Lord.
You shall keep my statutes.
You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind.
You shall not sow your field with mixed seed, nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool
come upon you.
Whoever lies carnally with a woman who is betrothed to a man as a concubine and who has not at
all been redeemed nor given her freedom, for this there shall be a scourging.
But they shall not be put to death because she was not free.
And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord, to the door of the tabernacle of
meeting, a ram as a trespass offering.
The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the
Lord for his sin which he has committed, and the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven
him.
When you come into the land and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall
count their fruit as uncircumcised.
Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you.
It shall not be eaten.
But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy.
A praise to the Lord, and in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to
you its increase.
I am the Lord your God.
You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothed
saying.
You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of
your beard.
You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you.
I am the Lord.
Do not prostitute your daughter to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry
and the land become full of wickedness.
You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary.
I am the Lord.
Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits.
Do not seek after them to be defiled by them.
I am the Lord your God.
You shall rise before the grey-headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear
your God.
I am the Lord.
And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him.
The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall
love him as yourself.
For you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
I am the Lord your God.
You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight or volume.
You shall have honest scales, honest weight, an honest effa, and an honest hin.
I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Therefore you shall observe all my statutes and all my judgments and perform them.
I am the Lord.
I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much as I did, and I look forward to seeing you
again tomorrow to continue on our journey.
God bless you and have a great day.